Amplifier or enunciator



Patented Aug. 15, i927.

:ROBERT LINN, or CHICAGO, ILLINoIs, AssIGNoR To WILLIAM ADARnAH.

AMrLIFIER 0R ENUNCIATOR.

.Application led `ITovember 20, 1922. Serial No. 602,058.

The reproduction of sounds as by means of phonographs, wireless telephones, or radio apparatus and the like usually necessitates the use of some means of amplication such as horns or the like. The devices heretofore used have in many instances been found more or less objectionable as they have been designed to a large extent with a view of amplication or the making of loud tonesand without suflicient regard to enunciation cr proper quality of the tones. The present invention relates to devices of this character and yparticularly to such devices as will be adapted to produce pleasing and properly modulated tones as well as giving sufficient amplification for ordinary purposes.

rllhe objects of the pre-sent invention are to provide a newy and useful amplifier which is constructed of suitable material to give natural or pleasing tones; to provide an amplifier formed of porcelain, by which is meant such materials as stonewarej earthenware, china and other hard or dense ceramic or non-resonant materials; to provide an amplifier having a pleasing form as for instance the simulation of a human head or bust;l

to provide an amplifier having in some in-` stances two or more amplifying chambers;

and in general to provide such an improved device of this character as will be described more fully in the following specification:

In the accompanying drawings illustrating this invention,

Figure 1 is a front view of an amplifier made in the form of a human head and adapted to be used in connection with a pair of head receivers;

i Figure 2 is a side view of the same;

'Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view; Figure Il is a horizontal sectional View;

and

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view showing a modified form of construction.

l have discovered that in order to make pleasing` tones and to reproduce the sounds generated by the reproducers of certain in struments or the receivers of radio appara* tus it is preferably to provide an amplifier made of such material as will not be particularly resonant or will not modify or change the sounds or tones by undue sym pathetic vibrations. To this end I have utilized glass or the like as the material for my improved amplifier or enunciator. Furthermore in order to 'facilitate 'the prepn er reproduction of the tones I prefer to make the reproducing or` amplifying element to simulate the sound projecting organs of an animal or person as will be readily seen in connection with these drawings. As shown in these drawingsv the amplifier comprises a main portion 6 formed of glass or othcrsuitablc material which for further novelty and pleasing appearance is made to simulate a girls head. The amplifier has two outlet passageways 7 and 8 which correspond respectively with the mouth and nasal passages of a person. For con venience in using the ordinary head receivers for loud speaking purposes, these passage ways are merged together as shown at 8 and connect with lateral inlet passageways 9 which lead to the sides of the head and correspond in a manner with the ear passages of a person. These combined passageways may increase gradually from the inlet points to the -outlet areas in a manner similar to an ordinary horn or may be shaped as shown in Figure 4 to more closely simulate the form of a persons mouth. When the device is made for use with head sets, the sides of the head corresponding to the ear portions are provided with annular projections 1() against which the receivers 11 will closely fit. vThese receivers may be of any ordinary or preferred form and are held in place by a spring or the like 12 in the usual manner.

In the modified form of construction shown in Figure 5, the head is provided with outlet passageways 13 and 14 which merge as at the back of the mouth and continue downwardly in an inlet passageway 15 which is preferably tapered or decreases in area toward its inlet end. A receiver 16 fits in a recess 17 in the lower end of the amplifier and the tones provided thereby are carried directly up through the passageway 15 and out through the outlet passageways 13 and 11i. The amplilier is preferably provided with balls or projections 18 which hold it above the surface of a table or the like on which it may be placed and the wires 19 which lead to the receiver may be brought in through the space thus provided.

When the head or bust comprising the amplifier is formed of glass it may be made of any suitable -shade or combination of colors desired and will have a particularly pleasing and beautiful appearance. As the sounds or tones are carried in through inlet passages they Will be amplified Without distortion or confusion and will retain their proper quality due to the combined passage- Ways inA a: Ina-nner similar to the production of sound by the vocal organs of a person.

'Vhile I have shown the pass'agewaysar# ranged to correspond with the sound producing organs of person, yet it will be noted' that the device n'iay also be constructed by l0 having the inlet andv outlet passages arranged.

in any desired manner. However, the device will have the novel feature of havlng a bust or head appear to be speaking or singing or producing such other tones as may be developed by the receiver.

lVhile I have illustrated the device in the ferm ot` a. female head, it willA be apparent that it may be n'lade in any suitable forni andl therefore- I do not Wish to be limited to the exact shane dor construction herein sliown and7 described',y except as specified in the Jfollowing claim in which I claim:

An integral porcelain loudspeaker horn having a base and a. bridge deliniiting a resonant chamber.

ROBERT LINN. 

